City Council to discuss budget, compensation

Members of the public will have the chance to put their two cents in during a public hearing on the proposed city budget at Tuesday’s meeting of the Santa Clarita City Council.At about $180.6 million, the proposed budget for the next fiscal year is actually around $3 million less than the budget for the current fiscal year, according to city officials.Though the budget has shrunk a bit, city officials have said no services will see cuts for the next fiscal year. Rather, the smaller budget is in tune with the city’s policy of fiscal conservatism, according to City Manager Ken Striplin.While about half of that is made up of funds earmarked for specific purposes, the city’s general fund budget that can be spent for any purpose is expected to be around $85 million for the next fiscal year.After Tuesday’s public hearing, the budget is expected to come back to the City Council on June 25 for final review and approval. The next fiscal year starts July 1.Along with the budget, council members will discuss whether to give themselves a raise during their meeting Tuesday night.Members of the City Council are currently paid $1,728.84 per month. Council members can receive up to a 5 percent annual wage adjustment under state law, according to city documents.The level of council compensation is typically addressed every two years, according to city documents, and the last pay adjustment took place in July 2012.Were the city to follow the 5 percent raise per year outline allowed under state law, council members would receive a 10 percent pay bump to $1,901.72 per month beginning in July 2014.This would result in an annual increase of $10,372.80 to the city’s budget.The City Council meets 6 p.m. Tuesday in Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd.Lmoney@signalscv.com661-287-5525On Twitter @LukeMMoney